Follow my build of a Boeing 737 simulator in my guest bedroom! You decide whether this is a healthy hobby or a total anorak obsession...

Monday, July 23, 2012

Scant progress to report

Who could resist reading a posting with such a great title? You, my fellow anoraks.

My day job is seriously interfering with my hobby. For example, I'm off to Europe again this week - somewhat of an unscheduled but necessary trip. Thus progress has been slow and mainly in the planning area.

Given the lead time for their gear, I've ordered up another Flight Illusion digital clock for the first officer (I wasn't going to do it but couldn't resist - an empty space in the MIP is a hole in my soul) and a brake pressure gauge (critical for landing and plugging another hole in the MIP).

Also noticed their new radio magnetic indicator with DME. Looks very nice and have enquired if it will fit the MIP or if customization is required:

Also asked if there are any plans for a combined airspeed and altitude gauge. If so, I'll be selling off the separate current ones I already have.

What else? Had a visitor over last Saturday who wanted to fly the sim. I ran Ken through some basics (he has never flown a 737 or a sim like it) and he got it off the ground no problem. Switched to the autopilot while climbing out of KSFO. All going well. Then while we were looking down at the PFD, all hell broke loose! Clearly something had gone wrong and the autopilot couldn't control the flight. I disengaged it while trying to figure out what was wrong. Ken did a remarkable job for a rookie, getting back to straight and level flight after a couple of wild pitches up and down and some rolls that would have the passengers barfing in a heartbeat.

Checking out the TQ, the trim indicator was pegged out at full nose up.... I thought I'd fixed this problem with some SIOC script changes but clearly not. We didn't have time to reset and try again so will need to spend more time trying to debug this damn piece of junk! The real annoying thing is that when Ken expressed an interest in having a go, I ran through a test flight before he came over and everything worked flawlessly. Murphy's law I guess.

And talking of Murphy, check this video out. Wonder if the captain is still flying for the airforce? Fine job of setting that sucker down though...

6 comments:

Is it possible to use Phidgets to control your TQ trim? I've been using Phidgets on my TQ with good success. Just an idea. I'm not sure how difficult it is to retrofit phidgets into a SR throttle, Cheers, Iain

Hey, I have the RevSim TQ and also that trim problem. Eventually, my trim indicators broke. I only use the sim about 1 hour every month, so it didn't last long. I removed the line of programming that activates the trim motors because they were just spinning constantly. Happy to provide that to you if it would help. This product has been a disappointment from day one. Sorry that you have had the same experience. I have given up and commissioned a refurbished 737-200 TQ to replace it.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Yes! Would very much like to see your code change. SIOC is a black art to me - I don't understand what the heck is going on with it...

I agree with you on how disappointing the Revolution Simproducts TQ is. When you spend so much you expect a product that will do what it says on the box. Their after sales support and general attitude to customers is terrible. They no longer answer my emails - I regret the day I sent them money.

I will see if I can figure out a way to export my SIOC script for you. I ended up playing around with deleting lines until I hit the one that disabled the trim motors.

In other news, I had Art at NorthernFlightSim retrofit a real throttle for me and the thing is incredible. Durable beyond belief and so easy to program. Doesn't need a tenth of the attention that the RS product did in setup. And, since it's the real deal, it should last longer.